Cyber criminals in Chitrakoot district of Uttar Pradesh have executed a sophisticated online scam by impersonating a senior administrative officer, defrauding a local resident of Rs 50000. The fraudsters created a fake Facebook profile utilizing the photo and official designation of District Magistrate Pulkit Garg. Using this deceptive identity, the scammers targeted Mohammad Aslam, a resident of Manikpur Arya Nagar, tricking him into transferring funds under the pretext of purchasing second-hand furniture belonging to a retiring military veteran. Following a formal complaint lodged by the victim, the cyber crime police station has registered a criminal case against unidentified suspects and initiated a comprehensive investigation.
Deceptive Social Media Profile Created to Trap Victims
Modern cyber fraudsters are increasingly evolving their methods beyond traditional phone banking trickery. While scam artists previously focused on extracting one-time passwords and banking credentials by pretending to be bank executives or law enforcement officers, they are now actively abusing social media platforms to impersonate respected public officials. In this incident from Chitrakoot, perpetrators set up a fraudulent Facebook account embedded with District Magistrate Pulkit Garg's portrait and official credentials, using it as a front to target unsuspecting local citizens.
According to victim Mohammad Aslam, he initially spotted the Facebook account displaying the District Magistrate's photograph and engaged in a preliminary exchange of messages. During the conversation, the impersonator strategically obtained Aslam's mobile contact number. Shortly after securing the digits, the fraudster placed a direct voice call, introducing himself as the District Magistrate of Chitrakoot to gain Aslam's complete trust. Given the prestige of the administrative post, the victim suspected no foul play and innocently proceeded with the interaction.
Fabricated Furniture Sale Story Triggers Advance Payment
During the telephone call, the fake officer informed Mohammad Aslam that a fellow Central Reserve Police Force personnel was retiring and relocating, leaving behind household furniture that needed to be sold urgently at a heavily discounted rate. Shortly after this conversation, Aslam received another call from an individual identifying himself as Sumit Kumar. The caller claimed ownership of the furniture and quoted a total price of approximately Rs 95000 for the entire set.
To finalize the deal, the scammer insisted on an immediate advance deposit, claiming that the District Magistrate had specifically directed payment before the goods could be handed over the following day. At the time of the call, Mohammad Aslam was staying in Prayagraj for work, which rendered him unable to inspect the articles in person. Relying entirely on the authority associated with the District Magistrate's name, Aslam agreed to the terms and digitally transferred Rs 50000 to the specified account, expecting to clear the remaining balance upon delivery.
Disappearing Contacts Force Victim to Contact Authorities
The fraudulent nature of the transaction became evident almost immediately after the funds were processed. Within minutes of receiving the Rs 50000 transfer, both phone numbers utilized by the scammers were permanently switched off. Aslam repeatedly attempted to re-establish contact over subsequent days, but all attempts proved futile as the lines remained disconnected.
Realizing that he had fallen victim to a calculated cyber fraud scheme, Mohammad Aslam traveled directly to the Chitrakoot Collectorate. He personally met District Magistrate Pulkit Garg and Superintendent of Police Arun Kumar Singh to report the entire series of events. Taking immediate note of the matter, authorities directed the cyber crime police station to register an official case against the unidentified perpetrators. Dedicated police teams have since commenced technical investigation efforts to trace the digital footprint of the culprits.
Police Administration Issues Public Vigilance Advisory
In the wake of the fraudulent incident, Superintendent of Police Arun Kumar Singh issued a stern warning to the public, urging citizens to exercise extreme caution against online identity theft and digital scams. He highlighted that cyber fraud cases involving fake social media profiles of government officials and acquaintances are rising rapidly across the region. He advised that no individual should process financial transactions based solely on digital messages or unverified phone calls without independently confirming the recipient's identity through official channels.
Superintendent of Police Singh emphasized that residents must directly reach out to known contact numbers to verify any urgent monetary requests. Meanwhile, District Magistrate Pulkit Garg issued a direct public appeal advising citizens not to respond to or fall for messages originating from unauthorized Facebook profiles created under his name. Law enforcement officials reminded the public to immediately notify local police or report suspicious digital activities to the national cyber crime helpline if they encounter fraudulent solicitations online.
